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As visitation increases significantly this time of year in the Ruidoso area, the Smokey Bear Ranger District is extending office hours to include Saturdays.

In addition to the regular hours on Monday through Friday, beginning May 26 and through Sept. 1, the office will be open on from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.

Services, including map sales, fuel wood permit sales and general information about nearby recreation opportunities will be provided during the times that the office is open.

“We offered extended hours last year and were not surprised that we were busy the whole summer long. I’m sure we will have plenty business on Saturdays again this year,” Jodie Canfield, District Ranger on Smokey Bear District, said. The office is at 901 Mechem Dr.; Ruidoso, 575-257-4095.

In addition to the Smokey Bear District office, the Lincoln National Forest has three administrative offices that provide map and fuel wood permit sales and visitor information. The Supervisor’s Office is in Alamogordo, the Sacramento District Office is in Cloudcroft and the Guadalupe District Office is in Carlsbad in southeastern New Mexico. All offices are closed on federal holidays.

To reach the supervisor's Office; 3463 Las Palomas Rd.; Alamogordo, call 575-434-7200 from 8 a.m, to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; the Sacramento District; 4 Lost Lodge Rd.; Cloudcroft, call 575-682-2551; and the Guadalupe District; 5203 Buena Vista Dr.; Carlsbad, call 575-885-4181. All three are open the same hours.

For more about the Lincoln National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LincolnUSForest

Fire restrictions in New Mexico can be found at https://firerestrictions.us/nm/ and fire updates are posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website at www.nmfireinfo.com.